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Family
Marriage:
Sources
1. Title:   Birth Certificate of Dorothy Holder
2. Title:   Marriage Certificate from DeKalb Co

Notes
a. Note:   H26
Note:   1925 - Born in Houston, Texas On copy of Dorothy Mae Holder's birth certificate, it states that Benjamin Franklin Holder was born in Voth, Texas, and his occupation was "Millman". He and Jennie lived at 5007 Eigle, RFD #6, Box 844. Frank was 30 years old and Jennie was 27 years old.
  1930 - Dorothy is shown in he 1930 Census living in the household of her parents, Ben and Jennie. They live on West 25th St., Houston, Harris Co, TX. Her sisters Virginia and Grace Elaine are there, too. Her father appears to be a foreman for what appears to be a Lock and Door Manufacturing Co.
  1934 - Dorothy's mother dies of an illness. The informant on her death certificate was her spouse, B.F. Holder. Their residence at that time was 1236 West 26th, Houston.
  At some point, Dorothy's dad became unable to properly care for his girls and they were removed to a girl's home (an orphanage) in Texas. I have an audiotape made years later in which Dorothy and her sister Gracie discuss that time in their life. Dorothy's first novel, "The Wonderful World Outside," was based upon her experience in the orphanage home.
  Eventually, Aunt Eva Stokely was given custody of the girls. She and her mother Ella took the girls to Atlanta to live. This is where my mother attended Girls High. Her teen novel "Dress Parade" is based upon her experience being a 'sponsor' at a military school's ceremony.
  Dorothy met Tom Jones in Atlanta at a series of church youth events, I believe.
  1943 - Dorothy and Tom marry in Dekalb Co., GA. Dad was already in the Army and they married during a weekend pass. She went with him to a couple of military training camps -- Norfolk, VA (Dad later said this was one of the happiest periods of their lives) - and Indianapolis, IN.
  When Tom went overseas during WWII - and was captured at the Battle of the Bulge and became a POW in Dresden, Dorothy lived with Tom's parents, Thomas ("Pop") and Helen. She took a clerk's job with a local Civil Service agency. This was a hard period for her, she once recalled. She had to cook and clean for Pop and Helen, and struggle to deal with Tom's absence so early in their marriage. Later she recalled -- after hearing of Tom's safe release from POW camp -- that the Baptist minister of their congregation singled her out one Sunday morning as being such an inspiration to him for having more faith than he had ever witnessed before, in her prayers for Tom and faith that God would bring him home safely.
  1946 - Dorothy gives birth to her son, _____.
  At some point, Tom and Dorothy move a few blocks away from his parents to 128 Ellington St., Decatur. Dorothy uses her time at home to write freelance articles on a wide variety of non-fiction subjects -- often 'how to' articles or profiles on interesting people. She also learns how to write 'true confessions.'
  1949 - She gives birth to her daughter, _____.
  1956 - Family moves to 136 Pinehill Drive, Decatur, GA.
  1959 - After many years of writing articles, Dorothy lands a literary agent at McIntosh & Otis in New York, and they sell her first novel "The Wonderful World Outside." It wins the Dodd, Mead 17th Summer Literary Competition, and a condensation of the novel is published in "Calling All Girls" teen magazine. Dorothy becomes a local mini-celebrity - with newspaper articles written about her. It was from one of those articles that she came to the attention of another aspiring local writer, Ann Beals. At their first get-together to discuss writing, Dorothy notices a collection of Christian Science Sentinels. After expressing interest, she is loaned a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Thus, a new direction in her life is discovered.
  Dorothy takes Christian Science class instruction from Israel Pickens, CSB, of Mobile, AL. From then on, every spring, she travels to Mobile for her CS association meeting. Mr. Pickens dies in 1964 or 1965, but she continues the trip to be with the Association of Pupils for about 25 years. She had the privilege of addressing the Association in the 1980's.
  Dorothy joins the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Decatur. The kids are enrolled in Sunday School. Dad drives the car, but he is not too happy with the change of churches.
  1962 - The family moves from Decatur, GA to 1300 Tracy Place, Falls Church, VA. Dorothy joins the First Church, Arlington, VA.
  1963 - She publishes "The Oldest One" with new publisher, Funk & Wagnalls.
  1964 - Son ______ graduates high school and is sent off to Clemson University.
  1965 - She publishes "Those Gresham Girls."
  1966 - She publishes "Dress Parade"
  1967 - She publishes "An Understanding Heart"
  During the sixties, Dorothy is also hired to teach writing seminars at Sea Island, GA and a local university.
  1969 - After working with a collaborator in Maine, Ruth Sargent, Dorothy publishes "Abbie Burgess: Lighthouse Heroine." However, a decision is made to stop writing professionally, and apply to become a full-time Christian Science practitioner. Daughter ______ moves to Boston, MA to work at The Mother Church.
  1970 - Dorothy is accepted for Journal-listing as a CS practitioner.
  1971 - Dorothy and Tom move to 6237 Cheryl Drive, Falls Church.
  During the 70's, Dorothy practices CS full-time with offices in both Falls Church and at the National Press Building in Washington, D.C. She writes numerous religious articles for The Christian Science Monitor, the Journal, and Sentinel. She gives speeches on behalf of the church at various community groups and in schools. She teaches seminars on writing for the periodicals. After all this experience, she is asked to prepare a lecture for consideration by the CS Board of Directors. After acceptance, Dorothy undergoes additional training and editing in Boston, and is announced as one of the new lecturers.
  1979 - Dorothy lectures across U.S. and a few Canadian cities.
  1980 - She does a second year of lecturing, but is disappointed when her application to become an authorized CS teacher is not accepted. Later, her second lecture was not accepted, either. This was the beginning of the end. We all believe she suffered a 'broken heart.'
  During the eighties, Dorothy fights for her health. She gets better, then gets worse. She accepts position on the Board of Directors of her local CS church. She also takes up writing again -- she finishes a novel (about "evil twins") and sells a confession story. She takes notes on a possible book on helping doctors understand how to work with Christian Scientists, plus another book which pleads for understanding between religions.
  1988 - Dorothy finally gets two granddaughters at once -- twins ________ are born in October.
  1991 - She passes away on June 6th from heart failure.
  *******************************
  From a letter to [daughter] from Carolyn Hilderbran dated February 3, 1998: "I only remember seeing your Mother once, and I am guessing that was probably at her Mother's funeral. In fact, the same was true of Gracie Elaine. I remember talking to Gracie in front of a picket fence when we were quite small. Somehow, I got back in touch with her during World War II. I think Uncle Dandy (Uncle Leroy) must have given her address to me since he always kept in touch and visited your Mother and her sisters. Gracie and I started corresponding. I was in high school and she was sort of "Rosie the Riveter" so I was in on her romance with George DeShield. I did not see her again until that visit in 1982 when I, accompanied by my sister, Barbara, began "the search" which all began because we were curious about Grandpa, Russell Holder.
  On one of Uncle Dandy's visits, he brought drawings your mother had done to decorate something at her school (a prom perhaps). And although I was only about 8 or 9 at the time I remember how impressed we all were. Everyone kept commenting on Dorothy's talent.
  A day or two before my tenth birthday (September 1938), Uncle Dandy showed up with Frankie. I don't know the full circumstances, but Frankie stayed with us while my Mother went with Uncle Dandy to Leaky, TX. (pronounced Lakey, part of the hill country) to visit his relatives. I have very vivid memories of Frankie and that visit. She was a teenager. My daddy took us swimming in the bay. When Mother came back she was worried because Frankie had a heart condition as the result of a fever as a child and all of the things my Daddy had let us do might have been bad for Frankie."
  ************************
 [Granddaughter] found these in database research at William and Mary:
  Dorothy Holder Jones
 1925?-1991
  Number of Source Citations: 1
  Contemporary Authors. A bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields. Volume 134. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. [ConAu 134]
  Number of Source Citations: 2
  Contemporary Authors. A bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields. Volumes 9-12, 1st revision. Detroit: Gale Research, 1974. [ConAu 9R]
  Foremost Women in Communications. A biographical reference work on accomplished women in broadcasting, publishing, advertising, public relations, and allied professions. New York: Foremost Americans Publishing Corp., 1970. [ForWC]
  Source Citation: Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, Cengage Learning.. 1980- 2008.
  **************
  From Eva Stokely's diary:
  5-1-31 - "Went to town. Got 'Dog of Flanders' for Dorothy's birthday, the 4th."
  5-4-34 - "Dorothy Mae is nine today. She is almost living image of her mother. I sent her a little white purse for her birthday."
 *********************
  Dorothy Holder Jones - Novels:
  1. "The Wonderful World Outside" - c 1959 DHJ - published by Dodd, Mead & Co Lib of Congress #59-11693
  2. "The Oldest One" - c 1963 DHJ - pub by Funk & Wagnalls Co., Inc., NYC LC 63015389
  3. "Those Gresham Girls" - c 1965 DHJ - pub by F&W, LC 65-11727
  4. "Dress Parade" - c 1966 DHJ pub F&W - LC 66012583
  5. "An Understanding Heart" - c 1967 DHJ - pub F&W, a division of Reader's Digest - LC AC-67-10547
  6. "Abbie Burgess, Lighthouse Heroine" c 1967 DHJ and Ruth Sexton Sargent (co-author) LC 69-12156; pub F&W - Copyright renewed 12-11-1998 in names of [daughter] and Ruth Sexton Sargent (RE-791-457)
  Note: Abbie Burgess was also printed in paperback by Down East, Camden Maine, reprinted by permission of Thomas Y. Crowell Co., Ind.
 Later Ruth Sargent reprinted as "The Original Biography of Abbie Burgess, Lighthouse Heroine - some had Ruth's name as co-author listed first.
 In 1996 a reprint began by Lighthouse Digest, Wells, Maine - now ceased printing.
  Agent: McIntosh and Otis, NYC - mom's personal agent Dorothy Markinko now deceased.



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